I had vitrectomy surgery June 2010 and never got to point to see how well my vision would turn out as the surgery produced a cataract quickly which I had removed six days ago (Feb 1). I made sure I got a specialist who did cataract surgery on an eye that had previous vitrectomy surgery as you need someone skilled to do that. I had implanted the standard monofocal. My vision now is extremely blurry; I see a purple hue on trees, streets, houses, when I look outside; headlights, traffic lights have halos; my vision is split in half with a blurred surgery eye and a good left eye which causes a sense of disorientation. I know it has only been a week since surgery but it is unnerving to experience these things, as when I had the vitrectomy surgery I experienced these same things and now with the cataract surgery, here I am again, never reaching the point of what my eyesight will truly be like. I guess I'm tired and a little scared. Anyone want to jump in and encourage me? Thanks.

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

It sounds like there might be a significant difference in refractive error between your eyes--i.e., one eye sees pretty well without correction and the other eye is significantly nearsighted or farsighted. Ask your surgeon if this could be the problem. If so, wearing a contact lens in one eye would solve your problem. By the way, why did you have the vitrectomy?

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

I've seen the doctor for post-op visit since you replied. He said all of the issues I have (the ones mentioned in my previous post) are normal after surgery. He said since I had surgery done on the same eye that had surgery 8 months ago, it takes time to heal. The lst surgery was a victrectomy in June 2011 and the 2nd one was cataract surgery Feb 2012. The reason for the vitrectomy is I had scar tissue on the retina and if I didn't have it removed I would have eventually lost sight in that eye. He said in a few weeks I'll get new lenses for my eyeglasses and believes I will see better. He told me my eyes are unbalanced at the moment because the surgery eye is blurred and the other eye is nearsighted with a lot of astigmatism and this is causing me to have split vision and purple hue when I go outside and expects that to go away when the eye heals and I get new eyeglasses. As far as halos around headlights and streetlights, he said that will take months to go away.

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

I also had cataract surgery 8 months after a vitrectomy to peel an epiretinal membrane in my right eye. I guess that everyone is different, but I did not experience the problems you've described. I had been very nearsighted with astigmatism, and my right eye was corrected for good distance vision. There was just too much difference between my eyes for glasses to work after I had my right eye done, but I had excellent distance vision with a contact lens in my left eye. I had my left eye done two weeks later (although it didn't have a cataract) so that I wouldn't need to wear a contact lens all the time.

Do you know what was targeted for your vision after cataract surgery? What is the prescription in your "good" eye?

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

The targeted vision after cataract surgery I believe is 20/20 to 20/40. The prescription for the good eye; I'm not sure of your question, but with glasses the good eye currently is at 20/20. I will just have to until the first week of March to see my doctor again and then see how the healing has progressed. He told me by that time he expects I can get new lenses for my eyeglasses and I'll see much better. Thanks for your help.

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

Most people have problems using both eyes together if there is more than a 2 to 2 1/2 diopter difference in refractive error between the eyes. This sounds like your problem. I hope that you see (literally) some improvement in your vision with your operated eye very soon. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

I'm so glad <to hear from you>. I was thinking of you. I did get second opinion and the second opinion doctor also asked another doctor in his office for his opinion. So I got two second opinions for the price of one!

They agreed on no BCG treatment. The reasons being it was their mutual opinion; second, the Urological Association put out a protocol in 2012 that people with my type low grade tumor do not need BCG; third, his patients with my type of tumor he doesn't put on BCG and they have been doing well. I have to return many times over several years for cystoscopies for follow-up. My decision whether to take treatment or not was the hardest decision I ever had to make in my life. And it is of such a personal nature that if anyone doesn't agree with me so be it; they did not walk in my shoes. I will do the cystoscopies as required, for as long as the doctor says. Thanks so much for your encouragement during this time and for seeking me out today.

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

Quote:

Originally Posted by legalbeagel

The targeted vision after cataract surgery I believe is 20/20 to 20/40. The prescription for the good eye; I'm not sure of your question, but with glasses the good eye currently is at 20/20. I will just have to until the first week of March to see my doctor again and then see how the healing has progressed. He told me by that time he expects I can get new lenses for my eyeglasses and I'll see much better. Thanks for your help.

Hi Legalbeagel,
now that it's November, has your sight improved? I sure hope so.
I had a vitrectomy last year, and I have cataract surgery for Jan , 2013.
And I sure hope I don't have such imbalanced vision.
Thanks for any info you can share.
eyemar

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

Hi Eyemar,

Been 11 months since cataract removal due to victrecomy. I never got an understandable explanation as to why the new lens that was inserted in the victrecomy eye operates long distance when my left eye (good eye) operates near sighted. The doctor said he caliberated exactly what I needed. It took a while before my brain synchronized the two eyes but it did do it. I have to have a cataract removed from the good eye in the future so I guess I must get a far sighted lens to match the other eye. The new lens currently in the victrecomy eye has shooting lights coming out of it for night driving and since it has been 11 months the healing is done and this is what I have. I understand in some patients that light refraction occurs in the new lens. The doctor told me that I had “cataract surgery on a victrecomy surgery eye” so you don’t know sometimes what you get. Just make sure that your victrecomy has healed completely and that you have a surgeon for the cataract surgery who has done cataract work on a victrecomy eye – I understand not all eye doctors have that experience. As far as seeing, I'm doing well with the exception of reading my computer screen – it’s blurred and harder to read so I’m headed to my eyedoctor when I save enough $$$ for computer glasses. I can't read labels in grocery stores, or if shopping for clothes, can't read price tags without pulling closer to my eyes. For your cataract surgery, consultation with your doctor and both of you understanding what is to be done, will get you the right lens. I think in my case there was a miscommunication between me and my doctor, or I just didn’t understand what he was doing in regard to choice of lens. I gave up trying to figure out what happened. I’m focused on instead of being thankful and truly blessed to have eyesight allowing me to function daily.

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

Quote:

Originally Posted by legalbeagel

Hi Eyemar,

Been 11 months since cataract removal due to victrecomy. I never got an understandable explanation as to why the new lens that was inserted in the victrecomy eye operates long distance when my left eye (good eye) operates near sighted. The doctor said he caliberated exactly what I needed. It took a while before my brain synchronized the two eyes but it did do it. I have to have a cataract removed from the good eye in the future so I guess I must get a far sighted lens to match the other eye. The new lens currently in the victrecomy eye has shooting lights coming out of it for night driving and since it has been 11 months the healing is done and this is what I have. I understand in some patients that light refraction occurs in the new lens. The doctor told me that I had “cataract surgery on a victrecomy surgery eye” so you don’t know sometimes what you get. Just make sure that your victrecomy has healed completely and that you have a surgeon for the cataract surgery who has done cataract work on a victrecomy eye – I understand not all eye doctors have that experience. As far as seeing, I'm doing well with the exception of reading my computer screen – it’s blurred and harder to read so I’m headed to my eyedoctor when I save enough $$$ for computer glasses. I can't read labels in grocery stores, or if shopping for clothes, can't read price tags without pulling closer to my eyes. For your cataract surgery, consultation with your doctor and both of you understanding what is to be done, will get you the right lens. I think in my case there was a miscommunication between me and my doctor, or I just didn’t understand what he was doing in regard to choice of lens. I gave up trying to figure out what happened. I’m focused on instead of being thankful and truly blessed to have eyesight allowing me to function daily.

Legalbeagel

Hi Legalbeagel!
Thanks so much for your reply!
I think you are right about communicating with the surgeon, but we're still just at their mercy. I have an apt. Dec. 28 for my pre-op with the cataract surgeon, so hopefully, I'll find out a little more.
I'm glad you can see and hopefully, you'll get some new glasses soon and be
able to read much better.
Good luck on the surgery for your good eye!
have a great Thanksgiving!
eyemar

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

I have the similar situation: vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye.

Initially, I did not know what my vision was after my vitrectomy surgery, as cataract happened immediately after my vitrectomy surgery (even the doctor was unable to see)

I had swelling (on Corney?) said by the doctor. Now, about three weeks after my cataract surgery, my vision is:

- distorted (curving: straight lines become waving lines)
- haze 5%~10% (similar as with cataract; Also, it's said that there is a flagmen of former lens dropped into)
- images seem a little bigger (compared with the good eye)
- very nearsighted (500 worse than targeted)
- minor: background color is different with the good eye. It's white / cold (as expected but not used to)

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

Quote:

Originally Posted by haoqi001

I have the similar situation: vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye.

Initially, I did not know what my vision was after my vitrectomy surgery, as cataract happened immediately after my vitrectomy surgery (even the doctor was unable to see)

I had swelling (on Corney?) said by the doctor. Now, about three weeks after my cataract surgery, my vision is:

- distorted (curving: straight lines become waving lines)
- haze 5%~10% (similar as with cataract; Also, it's said that there is a flagmen of former lens dropped into)
- images seem a little bigger (compared with the good eye)
- very nearsighted (500 worse than targeted)
- minor: background color is different with the good eye. It's white / cold (as expected but not used to)

Re: Question about vitrectomy surgery then cataract surgery in same eye

Hi everyone. Don't have much to contribute, but misery loves company, right? Anyways, my situation was very similar...Vitrectomy for scar tissue May 2011 =developed Cataract fast. Cat. surgery March 2012.

White background from new IOL vs yellowish in untouched eye. No wavy lines, but mild distortion and image bigger in surgery eye. This is due to the tugging of the retina from the scar tissue and surgery..photoreceptors are reorganized.
Lens Target margin of error is usually .25 either way...sounds like yours was off .50 ? (not 500?)
Also sounds like a fragment of your old lens dropped behind your capsular sac into the new fluid. This can happen, even with a good surgeon.
Hang in there and think positive. Ask specific ? to your surgeon, but also educate yourself !